The Philippines is once again setting its sights on Hollywood’s biggest stage, as the Film Academy of the Philippines has officially selected Lav Diaz’s epic historical drama Magellan as the country’s entry to the Best International Feature Film category at the 98th Academy Awards.
The announcement was celebrated by GMA Pictures, which posted a congratulatory message online: “We are proud to celebrate ‘Magellan’ as the Philippines’ Official Entry to the Best International Feature Film Category at the 98th Academy Awards.”
Directed by internationally acclaimed filmmaker Lav Diaz, Magellan (Magalhães) revisits the final months of Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan’s fateful expedition to the Philippines. Instead of glorifying conquest, Diaz’s vision portrays Magellan—played by Gael García Bernal—as a tormented figure confronting the weight of colonial ambition, mortality, and moral collapse.
“Magellan is not a hero here, but a man facing his own void,” Diaz explained during the film’s world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival in May 2025, where it screened in the prestigious “Cannes Premiere” section. The work explores themes of political violence, myth-making, and the human cost of empire through Diaz’s signature slow, meditative style.
Following its Cannes debut, the film drew praise for its rigorous historical research and unflinching perspective. Shot across multiple locations—including the Philippines, Portugal, and Spain—the production features an ensemble cast alongside Bernal, including Ângela Azevedo, Ronnie Lazaro, Hazel Orencio, and Tomás Alves.
The Philippine theatrical release began on September 10, 2025, with screenings at Ayala Malls Cinemas and other select venues, igniting renewed conversation about how Filipinos reckon with their colonial past through cinema.
Despite decades of submissions—34 films since 1956—the Philippines has yet to secure an Oscar nomination in the International Feature Film category. Acclaimed works such as Anak (2000), Norte, the End of History (2013), and Verdict (2019) all fell short of making the final shortlist, often due to the lack of the extensive Oscar campaign budgets required to compete globally.
